Print（PDF/148KB） Aug. 01, 2025 R&D

Sumitomo Pharma's Novel TLR7 Vaccine Adjuvant Selected for the CEPI Adjuvant Library -Innovative Technology that could contribute to Pandemic Preparedness-

Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; Representative Director, President and CEO: Toru Kimura) announced today that its novel TLR7 vaccine adjuvant (development code:DSP-0546LP) has been selected for the Adjuvant Library launched by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI, Headquarters: Norway).

CEPI is an international coalition that provides funding for vaccine development to prepare for infectious disease epidemics and pandemics. The Adjuvant Library was initiated under the “100 Days Mission” led by CEPI and embraced by the G7 and G20 nations, drawing on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to develop a vaccine against a new infectious disease threat with pandemic potential in as little as 100 days. Sumitomo Pharma's novel TLR7 vaccine adjuvant (DSP-0546LP) has been selected for its versatility in being potentially applicable to various antigens and its promising potential to enhance the efficacy of vaccines.

“The novel TLR7 vaccine adjuvant is one of the unique technologies we have developed through our interferon research program, and we are currently conducting a Phase 1 study utilizing this adjuvant in Europe for a universal influenza vaccine, with the support of AMED (the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development),” said Dr. Akihisa Fukushima, Senior Officer, Vaccines, Sumitomo Pharma. “We are also working on the research and development of malaria vaccines using our adjuvant technology, with the support of the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund. In addition to these adjuvanted vaccine developments, we are committed to contributing to global pandemic preparedness through this Adjuvant Library Program.”

“Immune-boosting adjuvants have played a powerful role in transforming our response to deadly diseases over the past century” explains Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI. “This world-first library will fill the gap of matchmaking vaccines to a range of adjuvants to more rapidly identify the best combinations that could save lives and even stop a future pandemic in its tracks.”

“GHIT Fund has been continuously supporting Sumitomo Pharma's research and development of malaria vaccines using the novel TLR7 vaccine adjuvant technology since 2019,” said Dr. Osamu Kunii, MD, MPH, PhD, CEO and Executive Director of the GHIT Fund. “During our supporting period, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of repurposing various technologies for future pandemic preparedness. The selection of Sumitomo Pharma's novel TLR7 vaccine adjuvant for the CEPI Adjuvant Library is a testament to the high potential of this technology, and it is very gratifying that the preparedness for future pandemics has been strengthened. Under the CEPI framework, which brings together global adjuvant technologies, we expect Sumitomo Pharma’s novel TLR7 vaccine adjuvant to play a significant role in addressing future pandemic threats.”

“The government of Japan is a founding member and a major donor to the CEPI. Japan has contributed over US$521 million to CEPI’s work, including a pledge of US$300 million to support the CEPI’s 2022-2026 strategy,” said Mr. Junichi Takahashi, Director, Office of Global Health Cooperation, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. “Japan emphasized the importance of developing and strengthening the global health architecture and enhancing prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) to public health emergencies, at the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit. As a concrete measure, Japan is closely collaborating with CEPI, for example, through the Strategic Center of Biomedical Advanced Vaccine Research and Development for Preparedness and Response (SCARDA). We expect that the partnership between the Japanese private sector and CEPI announced this time can contribute to the enhancement of PPR.”

Reference

TLR7 adjuvant

TLR7 adjuvant is a formulation containing a compound that specifically activates the Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), one of the TLR family members, which senses virus-derived RNA and induces innate immune responses. When added to antigens as an adjuvant, it enhances the quantity, quality, and durability of immune responses.

CEPI’s Adjuvant Library

To prepare for the next pandemic, CEPI is establishing an Adjuvant Library. The pioneering library will serve as vaccine-adjuvant matchmaking service that creates more potent vaccines and speeds up the response to deadly disease outbreaks. Following a pilot study, from late 2025 CEPI-backed vaccine developers will be able to request up to five adjuvant samples to combine with their vaccine candidates. Select CEPI-supported laboratories will then run preclinical tests on the vaccine-adjuvant pairings to screen which of the five combinations performs most strongly. The developer can use this data to guide whether to progress the successful vaccine-adjuvant pairing into clinical testing. The service would first be available to CEPI-funded vaccine developers before potentially expanding more widely.